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A brawl between a pedestrian and a cyclist near the waterfront has underscored the conflict between cyclists and pedestrians on the newly revamped Queens Quay.

The fresh look of the street, unveiled in June in time for the Pan Am Games after years of construction, has been heralded by designers and cyclists alike. But while the new design makes for a beautiful stroll, cycle or drive along the waterfront, its complex road rules have led to some confusion.

A pedestrian, angered after allegedly being run into while trying to cross the street, was filmed punching a cyclist in the face at the south side of Lower Simcoe and Queens Quay by a bystander.

On Saturday, a pedestrian, angered after allegedly being run into while trying to cross the street, was filmed punching a cyclist in the face at the south side of Lower Simcoe and Queens Quay. Bystander Pedro Marques videoed the exchange.

Marques was walking his dog when he heard a bike braking. Looking up, he saw the cyclist, who had been riding east on the new multi-use asphalt path, entangled with the pedestrian who had been trying to cross to the north side of the street.

“The cyclist must have been speeding pretty fast, because he didn’t just brake, it kind of dragged two feet,” he said.

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The two began to argue, which is when Marques started to film.

In the recording the pedestrian can be heard shouting, “why were you running through a red light?” at the cyclist. “I slammed on my brakes, man, f--- you,” the cyclist said. The pedestrian began to kick the bike and then punched the cyclist in the face.

“It was over soon after that. The cyclist didn’t seem to want to get into it,” Marques said.

Other bystanders approached the fuming pair and calmed them down — no police were called.

“They were both in the wrong,” Marques said.

A pedestrian, angered after allegedly being run into while trying to cross the street, was filmed punching a cyclist in the face at the south side of Lower Simcoe and Queens Quay by a bystander.

Regardless of who was at fault, Marques wonders if the street’s new design threw the cyclist off.

Although much of the path is divided into distinct sections for cyclists and pedestrians, there are parts that mix.

“I think this is a new piece of infrastructure, and I think it’s going to take some getting used to for pedestrians and cyclists,” said Jared Kolb, executive director of Cycling Toronto.

Kolb is adamant that most cyclists follow the rules of the road, and that ultimately, Queens Quay is exactly what this city needs.

“The new Queens Quay is, I would say, an exceptional success,” he said.

Since unveiling the new Queens Quay in June, Waterfront Toronto has received numerous comments from cyclists, pedestrians and drivers who said they don’t know how to use the street, said Andrew Hilton, spokesperson for Waterfront Toronto.

“It seems that drivers, pedestrians and cyclists aren’t heeding the standard signs, signals and line painting that are there to guide them through the street’s new intersections and driveways,” reads a blog post by Waterfront Toronto.

Hilton said the original signs followed provincial standards, but based on user feedback, additional signs will be added, including “Stop Here on Red” signage for cyclists on the multi-use path (part of the extended Martin Goodman Trail), according to the blog post.

“I think there’s always a period of adjustment,” Hilton said. “And that’s what we’re working on now.”

Hilton said regardless of “growing pains,” the street is much safer now for cyclists and pedestrians than it used to be.

“In a couple of years, I think people will realize it’s a vast, vast improvement,” he said.

Const. Clint Stibbe, with the Toronto Police, said no charges were laid following the incident which he viewed online. Stibbe said you can’t blame the road for people’s mistakes.

“The issue isn’t the design of the area,” Stibbe said. “It’s the issue of people not following the rules.”

There’s “nothing confusing about it” and that drivers and cyclists just make bad decisions, he said.

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